Sam and I are really excited to run the Rock ‘n Roll DC 1/2 Marathon in March! This is a photo from one of our long runs in Rock Creek Park. Are you running any upcoming races? What distances? Where do you do your long runs?

One beautiful Sunday afternoon, Sam and I went ice skating. It’s been on our bucket list for some time, and we had a great time. We went to the Sculpture Garden Ice Skating Ring! What are some of your “to-do” activities for 2013?

Recently, our favorite bar has been Meridian Pint in Columbia Heights. They have a large selection of beers, and some good food. Have you been there before? If not, definitely add it to your list!

We spent a fun Saturday afternoon people watching and eating sandwiches from Paul, the delicious French bakery. Stop in: buy a sandwich, pastry, or coffee and read a book- it’s a perfect weekend afternoon! There are a number of DC locations: Penn Quarter, Farragut North, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, and soon there will be one out in Tysons Corner.

Back in May, Sam and I tried Kushi for the first time. This time around I tried the lunch version with my friend Alix. The dish pictured above was my Ocean’s Oyako Don (salmon & roe), and she had the Spicy Zuke Don (spicy soy sauce tuna). The lunch dishes come with miso soup, salad and pickles- most within a $12-$15 price range. What’s your favorite sushi place?

The 2013 Presidential Inauguration was held over Martin Luther King weekend. This photo is from the day before, where you can see they covered up that fresh grass that had been growing. I think everyone was a little worried it’d get trampled up with so many people walking all over it, but it’s good thing they had a Plan B! Did anyone attend any fun Inauguration Balls?

I won a set of AirBake cookie sheets from a giveaway Olga, of Mango & Tomato, was having on her blog! I’m excited to bake some delicious cookies- any suggestions or recommendations?

Olga and I met at the Eat Write Retreat DC Blogger Conference back in May. It’s been great making a new friend, and fellow food blogger. I love her recipes, so definitely check out her blog for more giveaways and her fun stories!

I also received Breakfast for Dinner, the new cookbook by Lindsey and Taylor, of Love and Olive Oil. We got this signed copy for helping out with some recipe testing earlier this year. This was one of the first blogs I started reading, long before Fifth Floor Kitchen started, and I was so excited to help them out! Can’t wait to try more delicious recipes from this book (in bookstores on February 12)!

Lastly, we finished off the month by trying out the Moroccan Chickpea & Sweet Potato Stew from A Couple of Cooks. They have some fabulous vegetarian recipes, so definitely check out their blog- this particular one was easy and delicious, makes for great lunch leftovers!